Best of Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Sandakan, Kinabatangan River & Gaya Island

From
$4500
Per person
in
low season

From
$4900 Per person
in
high season

based on 11 nights & selected experiences

Price Guide:

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* Pricing is a guideline only and excludes special offers. Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year and other public vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Price includes:

Internal flights

Accommodation

Private transfers

Shared transfers

Boat transfers

Selected experiences

Price based on 2 people sharing.

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At a Glance

The perfect introduction to Borneo and its highlights, combining incredible wildlife with the stunning beaches

Enjoy a night or two in Kuala Lumpur to get over the long flight and adjust to the time zone before beginning your adventures in Borneo's Sabah state

Stay at a traditional rainforest lodge deep within the Danuum Valley - a truly special experience

The itinerary can easily be extended or tweaked to include other parts of Borneo

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Like the rest of Malaysia, Sabah’s climate is hot and humid. Expect temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s throughout the lowlands. The state’s rainfall averages about 300cm annually and though it rains throughout the year, the heaviest rainfall generally occurs between October and January.

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We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you. To start planning your vacation

Itinerary

A journey through the heart of Malaysia showcasing the very best this diverse country has to offer. Discover metropolitan Kuala Lumpur before exploring the dense Borneo Rainforest. See pygmy elephants and orangutans in the pristine Kinabatangan Wetlands area before enjoying some respite on one of Sabah's beautiful outer islands, Gaya Island.

Begin your adventure in the diverse capital city Kuala Lumpur. A melting pot of ancient traditions and modern city living, Kuala Lumpur offers the ideal starting point for your exploration of Malaysia. Ascend the renowned Petronas Towers for sensational views across the city or wander the many markets and boutique shopping outlets. We have included within this itineary a guided excursion to the nearby Batu Caves where you will get to explore the may temples and shrines that line the entrance to this sacred site.

Continue to Borneo’s east coast and wildlife drenched region of Sepilok. Spending the evening in a jungle-based lodge, here you will visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center where majestic apes roam semi-wild. Learn about the plight of their forest habitat and see them up close as the rangers feed them. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Sun Bear Sanctuary which is home to world's smallest bear, the Bornean Sun Bear. Both experiences are included in the cost of this itinerary.

Continue further inland to the Kinabatangan wetlands area which will be your base for the next two nights. Witness the comical proboscis monkeys patrol the treetops along the banks of the Kinabatangan River and look out for pygmy elephants making their way to the water to drink and bathe. Explore the oxbow lakes, walk through the jungle and take boat trips along the river with eagle-eyed guides who will spot all manner of incredible wildlife before it slinks back off into the vegetation (experiences included).

Your next destination is the unique and spectacular Danum Valley Conservation Area. Walk through the treetops on the suspended canopy walkways looking out for hornbills and if you are very lucky, wild orangutans lounging in the branches. Walk through the jungle on special trails, passing waterfalls and hot springs and enjoying the cacophony of exotic bird calls.

Finally, your adventure comes to an end with some time relaxing on the beautiful Gaya Island, just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. Laze on the golden beaches, enjoy delicious cuisine and swim in the warm waters of the South China Sea at your leisure. The perfect end to your discovery of the best of what Malaysia has to offer.

Experiences

Batu Caves & Royal Selangor Pewter Tour

This half day tour will take you to the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, where you will visit Malaysia's most prestigious pewter factory as well as the Batu Caves; one of the country's most iconic and holy sites.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge - Canopy Walk

An adventure along Borneo Rainforest Lodge's canopy walk is often one of the highlights of a stay here. This suspended walkway is 300 meters long, and reaches 26 meters high at its peak, offering a different perspective into the rainforest.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge - Night Safari

Hop into the back of an open-air truck for a night safari; a great time to see nocturnal primates such as the slow loris, flying red squirrel, samba deer, and civets. Your guide will use a strong torch to search for wildlife as you bump along the track.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge - Rainforest Trek

Accompanied by your expert guide, trek through the pristine primary rainforest of the Danum Valley. This is one of the oldest rainforests in the world, filled with wonderful wildlife, astonishing plants, tumbling waterfalls and mysterious rock pools.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge - “Coffin Cliff” Trek

Trek up to the “Coffin Cliff”, an ancient burial site of the Kadazandusun tribe, passing through picturesque rainforest and past waterfalls. You will also take in the best views of Danum Valley, and enjoy a refreshing dip in a natural Jacuzzi pool.

Forgotten Trails of Kuala Lumpur City

Kuala Lumpur is often regarded as very much a contemporary city, with modern streets and towering skyscrapers. This tour aims to go behind the scenes, and explore more of the local life within Malaysia's capital.

Kampung Tour - Kuala Lumpur

Head out of Kuala Lumpur to gain an insight into Malaysia's rural life. Spend the afternoon visiting a local village before taking a boat trip into a mangrove forest, where there are often thousands of fireflies lighting up the trees on the riverbank.

Kinabatangan River - Afternoon River Cruise

In the late afternoon set off by boat to explore the Kinabatangan River. Enjoy the scenery as the sun sets, watching the colors change across the sky. You may be lucky enough to spot the fireflies begin to twinkle along the riverbanks as night falls.

Kinabatangan River - Night Walk

Accompanied by the lodge's naturalist, enjoy an evening adventure along the boardwalk around the property. This is a great opportunity to spot some of the area's nocturnal wildlife, including snakes, birds and insects.

Petaling Street Heritage Food Walk

Spend a few hours enjoying the sites, smells and flavors of Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown area. This is a fun but fairly gentle introduction into Asian streetfood. You will also have the opportunity to visit nearby temples.

Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear Sanctuary

Visit the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. Here you will have a chance to see successfully rehabilitated orangutans coming to feeding platforms, and perhaps even juvenile orangutans during one of their daily training sessions.